ONE Body

We live in a polarized world.

This is one major observation I can make from the past 5 years of ministry.

“What may polarize the world does not or should not divide the church.” David Garland 1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary of the New Testament)

i read this quote this week and it really hit me.

The Church, local and global, is meant to offer a better way.

This is my heart. I think this is the heart of Jesus as revealed in Scripture. My heart hurts because I don’t think we recently have been doing this well on many fronts.

This is not a new issue.

Here is the encouragement, for me, this is not a new issue.

The Holy Spirit changes things. Or should.

Verses 12-14 I believe Paul is talking about how at conversion, which was typically signified by baptism (water), how the Spirit indwelt a person. Not a separate Spiritual experience.

The metaphor of the body.

This was a well known metaphor in the 1st century in some areas. It was used politically. It was used in other ways so it may be hard to realize exactly how the first hearers would have interpreted. If the body was just an “eye” it is by definition not a “body”.

The catalyst of unity is the Spirit and Jesus the Messiah.

We cannot on our own manufacture this any more than the hand can say to the foot “I don’t need you”.

Each “part” has value. The hidden more so.

We need not just people doing the visible work but Paul makes it clear we need those behind the scenes roles also.

There is only ONE body.

Paul does not speak of multiple to this church nor to ours. Does he mean each local church or the church globally? I want to say it is a both/and situation. The local church needs every member to do what the Holy Spirit is telling them while realizing we are not the only expression of the body of Christ—and that is okay!

Seek the Lord and partner with Him.

This is where I believe Paul is talking about when he says “earnestly seek the greater gifts? You must seek Jesus if you want to know your Spiritual gifting. You do not get to decide what is given but you can work it out.

Philippians 2:12–13 NIV

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Show a better way!

This is what I have to tell myself every day. I have to show a better way! I have to be different because I am a follower of Jesus! I cannot fly off the handle online or offline, though I may want to, because of who Jesus is! I cannot amputagte another Christian just because they are different!